• Most public swimming beaches on Sturgeon and Pigeon Lakes were closed weekends in summer 2006 & 2007 due to excessive e.coli bacteria levels.

• Ministry of Environment has restricted eating the fish that are still alive in our lakes.

• Large algae plumes and weeds are a huge tourism problem caused by excessive phosphorus discharge from sewage treatment plants, leaking septics and our fertilizing frenzy.

KPOW DIGEST (as published in the Promoter on Sept. 3, 2009)
by Sharon King

Mayor Ric McGee attended the KPOW meeting on August 20th to discuss a water project that has the potential to control virulent weed growth which is strangling the waterways in the Kawarthas. Mayor McGee explained that ideally aquatic weeds would be cut, harvested and used to make ethanol with fertilizer being the by-product. Though growing corn to produce ethanol is not a green solution due to the high cost to the environment and energy usage involved, this may not be the case using aquatic weeds. Further details were not available at the KPOW meeting as it still must be determined if the project would be viable. The Mayor suggested that if the project were to proceed that the profits be used strictly for improving the waterways. On September 13th, Barry Devolin MP, Rick Johnson, MPP and Mayor McGee are meeting with representatives from KPOW, local environmental organizations and lake associations where further details will be provided.

Councillor Doug Elmslie spoke to the members about development on the old Swedfurn property on Cameron Lake. The owner has leased the property and the lessee has brought in between 70 and 120 wrecked vehicles. KPOW was under the impression that the vehicles were to be removed. We and local residents are concerned that leaking oil, rust, etc. may find its way into the lake. Councillor Elmslie assured the group that he is keeping apprised of the situation and that he feels that once the owner returns this month, an amicable solution can be found.

Public Review Committee which oversees the Lindsay/Ops dump, invite the public and press to attend their meeting on September 16th at 9:00 a.m. in the Victoria Room, Lindsay. The Ministry of the Environment will be attending to answer questions regarding the operation of the dump. KPOW feels the dump is a source of pollution to the Scugog River, Sturgeon Lake and beyond. This is an opportunity to learn what is and is not being done to contain leachate from entering the waterways. The public is always welcome and the meetings take place the third Wednesday of the month.

KPOW had written a letter to Mr. Gerritson, the Minister of the Environment, asking for a review of the local office of the MOE. The Minister asked the Regional Director to reply to the incidents referred to in our correspondence.

In their response the Ministry has replied that after a review of previous annual monitoring reports, there have been no adverse effects to the Scugog River caused by a leachate plume from this landfill. They have finally admitted in writing that there is a leachate plume although KPOW is not in agreement with their conclusion.

We asked about the numerous closed dumps near waterways in the Kawarthas that have not been properly closed and monitored. The MOE replied that their Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch are currently reviewing closure plans for a number of inactive waste disposal sites in the CoKL. We have requested from the City Certificate of Approval numbers for any dumps closed after 1971, an inspection schedule of closed dumps and what components are being tested for at these sites. We are eagerly awaiting the City's response.

In 2006, members of KPOW filed with the Commissioner of the Environment a request that a second leachate collection system be installed at the closed Lindsay North dump and that the buried barrels of pesticides be removed from this site. The collection system was installed but the pesticide issue was not addressed. The MOE requested that the City sample the site at the leachate pumping station for pesticides and free cyanides on a semi-annual basis. This data will be included in the 2008 Annual Report which will be released in October 2009.

KPOW asked about the source of PCB's in the Scugog River around the outfall of the Sewage Treatment Facility and the Lindsay/Ops dump that were reported in the Final Report Biomonitoring Study of the Scugog River Near the Lindsay/Ops Landfill and the Town of Lindsay's Sewage Lagoons. The MOE responded that the EMR Branch of the MOE is planning further work this fall in the Scugog River to determine the pathway and extent of PCB's in the Lindsay area. The City has also committed to sampling for PCB's in specific locations of the Scugog River and the MOE will review these results.